The Work of The Church & Institutionalism

“The most serious issue that churches of Christ have faced in this century is church cooperation and ‘institutionalism.’ Led by Roy Cogdill, Yater Tant, and the Gospel Guardian, a substantial number of churches have some to oppose such cooperative programs of evangelism as the Herald of Truth and the homes for orphans and aged, as they are presently organized. During the past 15 years many debates have been held, churches have divided, and fellowship has been broken. This is the most serious division, numbers-wise, that churches of Christ have suffered. Whether the division is final, or whether it can be healed, is yet to be determined” (Story of

Restoration, p. 74, Bill Humble).

The Work of The Church & Institutionalism

What Is Institutionalism?

Institutionalism is the practice of BUILDING and financially MAINTAINING or subsidizing different institutions to do the work of the local church.

The Work of The Church & Institutionalism

The Threefold Work of The Church?

Evangelism

Benevolence

Edification

Missionary Society

Orphan Homes, Widows Homes, Hospitals

Colleges

The Work of The Church & Institutionalism

What The Issue Is And Is Not!

IS NOT Should the church

do its works.

IS NOT "How" the church

does its work.

THE ISSUE IS "WHO" SHOULD DO THE WORKS.

The Work of The Church & Institutionalism

What Is The Local Church?CHURCH OF CHRIST

(Local – Phil. 1:1)

1. DIVINE IN ORIGIN

2. CHRIST IS HEAD

3. BLOOD BOUGHT

4. NEW TESTAMENT

5. ELDERS - OVERSEERS

The Work of The Church & Institutionalism

Is The Local Church Sufficient?

"A church can do what an individual disciple cannot, and so can a district of churches do what A SINGLE CON-GREGATION CANNOT" (Alexander Campbell, Millennial Harbinger, Vol. Ii, No. 5, pg. 237).

The Work of The Church & Institutionalism

Is The Local Church Sufficient?"We met, not for the purpose of enacting ecclesiastic laws, not to interfere with the true and scriptural independence of the churches, but to consult about the best ways for giving efficiency to our power, and to devise such methods of cooperation, in the great work of converting and sanctifying the world, as our combined counsels under the guidance of Providence, might suggest and approve. THERE ARE SOME DUTIES OF THE CHURCH WHICH A SINGLE CONGREGATION

CANNOT, BY HER UNAIDED STRENGTH, DISCHARGE…"" (W.K. Pendleton, Millennial Harbinger, Third Series, Vol. VI, No. 12, pp. 689, 690).

The Work of The Church & Institutionalism

The Local Church Is Sufficient!!!

CHURCH OF CHRIST (Local – Phil. 1:1)

1. DIVINE IN ORIGIN

2. CHRIST IS HEAD

3. BLOOD BOUGHT

4. NEW TESTAMENT

5. ELDERS

EVANGELISMProvides place, equipment, preachers, etc., for

BENEVOLENCEProvides place, food, super-vision, etc., for

EDIFICATION Provides place, equip-ment, teachers, etc., for

The Local Church Is Sufficient!!!CHURCH OF CHRIST

(Local Church – Phil. 1:1) 1. DIVINE IN ORIGIN2. CHRIST IS HEAD3. BLOOD BOUGHT4. NEW TESTAMENT5. ELDERS

EVANGELISMProvides place, equipment, preachers, etc., for

BENEVOLENCEProvides place, food, super-vision, etc., for

EDIFICATION Provides place, equipment, teachers, etc., for

WHICH ORGANIZATION SHOULD DO THE WORK?

CHURCH OF CHRIST (Local Church – Phil. 1:1) 1. DIVINE IN ORIGIN2. CHRIST IS HEAD3. BLOOD BOUGHT4. NEW TESTAMENT5. ELDERS

EVANGELISMProvides place, equipment, preachers, etc., for

BENEVOLENCEProvides place, food, super-vision, etc., for

EDIFICATION Provides place, equipment, teachers, etc., for

MISSIONARY SOCIETY(Corporate Body)

1. HUMAN IN ORIGIN2. HUMAN LAWS3. CONTROLLED BY

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

$$$

EVANGELISM

Provides place, equipment, preachers, etc.,

WHICH ORGANIZATION SHOULD DO THE WORK?

CHURCH OF CHRIST (Local Church – Phil. 1:1) 1. DIVINE IN ORIGIN2. CHRIST IS HEAD3. BLOOD BOUGHT4. NEW TESTAMENT5. ELDERS

EVANGELISMProvides place, equipment, preachers, etc., for

BENEVOLENCEProvides place, food, super-vision, etc., for

EDIFICATION Provides place, equipment, teachers, etc., for

$$$

EVANGELISM

MISSIONARY SOCIETY(Corporate Body)

1. HUMAN IN ORIGIN2. HUMAN LAWS3. CONTROLLED BY

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

BENEVOLENT SOCIETY(Corporate Body)

1. HUMAN IN ORIGIN2. HUMAN LAWS3. CONTROLLED BY

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

$$$

Provides place, equipment, preachers, etc.,

Provides place, food, supervision, etc., BENEVOLENCE

WHICH ORGANIZATION SHOULD DO THE WORK?

CHURCH OF CHRIST (Local Church – Phil. 1:1) 1. DIVINE IN ORIGIN2. CHRIST IS HEAD3. BLOOD BOUGHT4. NEW TESTAMENT5. ELDERS

EVANGELISMProvides place, equipment, preachers, etc., for

BENEVOLENCEProvides place, food, super-vision, etc., for

EDIFICATION Provides place, equipment, teachers, etc., for

$$$EVANGELISM

MISSIONARY SOCIETY(Corporate Body)

1. HUMAN IN ORIGIN2. HUMAN LAWS3. CONTROLLED BY

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

BENEVOLENT SOCIETY(Corporate Body)

1. HUMAN IN ORIGIN2. HUMAN LAWS3. CONTROLLED BY

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

$$$

Provides place, equipment, preachers, etc.,

Provides place, food, supervision, etc.,

BENEVOLENCE

"CHRISTIAN" COLLEGE(Corporate Body)

1. HUMAN IN ORIGIN2. HUMAN LAWS3. CONTROLLED BY

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

EDIFICATION

$$$

Provides place, equipment, teachers, etc., for

WISDOM OF GOD

NOAH BUILD

WISDOM OF GOD

NOAH BUILD

NOAH

ARK

BUILDING

SOCIETY

WISDOM OF MEN

Providing A Home

1 Pet. 5:2Acts 4:35Acts 6:1-5

1 Tim. 5:16

Local Church

ProvidesShelterFood

ClothingCare

Buy service from institution

Providing A Home

1 Pet. 5:2Acts 4:35Acts 6:1-5

1 Tim. 5:16

Local Church

ProvidesShelterFood

ClothingCare

Buy service from institution

SCRIPTURE?????????

Local Church

Benevolent SocietyCorporate Body

Human LawsBoard of Directors

ShelterFood

ClothingCare

Shifting Responsibility

Individual

Jas. 1:27Gal. 6:10

Benevolent Society

CareFood

ClothingShelter

LOCALCHURCH